GUL MEETS WITH PAKISTAN'S MUSHARRAF, OPPOSITION PARTY LEADERS
President Abdullah Gul yesterday met with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf ahead of general elections set for January 8 in Pakistan. Speaking to reporters at a joint press conference following the meeting, Gul said that Pakistan is going through a critical time. "The important thing in this period is to show unity," he said. "They should look at the big picture and act constructively. This would be good for Pakistan." Musharraf urged a strengthening of bilateral economic and commercial relations, adding that he had told Gul about the latest developments in his country. "Pakistan is going through a democratic transition," he said. "This transition will support the country's future." Gul also met with opposition party leaders. Gul stressed that democracy is the only way to overcome Pakistan's problems, calling on opposition leaders to act with common sense. /Turkiye/
FM BABACAN VISITS GREECE
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday went to Greece for a two-day visit at the invitation of his Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyannis. Babacan said that today he and his host would discuss bilateral relations. After completing his talks in Athens, Babacan will proceed to the cities of Komotini and Alexandroupolis in Western Thrace to meet with representatives of the Turkish community living there. He is also scheduled to meet with main opposition party leader George Papandreou. /Cumhuriyet/
EKREN: "FOREIGN CAPITAL IS HELPING TURKEY CREATE JOBS"
State Minister for the Economy Nazim Erken yesterday announced that foreign capital coming into Turkey has created jobs for more than 113,000 people. In a written statement in response to a question motion from opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Kirklareli Deputy Tansel Kirbas, Erken provided details of areas in which foreign capital is being invested and what the effects on employment are. /Today's Zaman/
TURKEY, IRAN DISCUSS BORDER SECURITY ISSUES
A delegation from Iran arrived in the eastern city of Van yesterday to attend a Turkey-Iran border security meeting. Ozdemir Cakacak, the governor of Van, welcomed the delegation and said that Turkey and Iran have a historic friendship and cooperation. The parties discussed border security issues in the context of the 1971 Turkish-Iranian agreement on common frontiers. /Turkish Daily News/
REBUFFING DTP DEPUTIES, LAGENDIJK URGES THEM TO REPUDIATE TERRORIST PKK
Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee Co-Chair Joost Lagendijk yesterday attended the Turkey-European Union and Kurds Conference at the European Parliament. During the conference, Lagendijk called on deputies from Turkey's Democratic Society Party (DTP) to give one hundred percent assurance that they don't approve of the strategies or attacks of the terrorist PKK. He said that the target of the terrorist attacks and its real victim is the DTP. Stating that the true representative of Kurds is Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has 75 deputies of Kurdish origin, Lagendijk said, "The DTP can find a solution to the Kurdish problem by cooperating with the AKP, but the terrorist PKK won't allow this." /Star/